Errors may send Huff from third to outfield

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 6, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- Aubrey Huff's move to third base seemed to be one of the Devil Rays' success stories. Maybe not.

Huff, who made three errors in the first five games and let a few balls sail past him, was told Saturday to start taking balls in rightfield.

If Huff, who played outfield briefly the summer before his junior year in college, can make the move, the Rays likely will shift Damion Easley to third base and have Marlon Anderson and Terry Shumpert split time at second base.

"I think it's something to explore," manager Lou Piniella said. "We'll see if these things fall into place."

Huff, 26, seemed headed to DH after the Rays signed first baseman Travis Lee just before spring training, but Huff won the third-base job with an impressive performance, making only one error and several highlight-reel-type plays.

He hasn't been as sharp during the first week of the regular-season, and Piniella is looking for options, instructing outfield coach Billy Hatcher to begin a crash course.

"We'll see where we go with it," Piniella said. "Let's find out if Huff can play the position, if he feels comfortable playing the position."

Huff was rather surprised at Saturday's decision.

"Third base, I'd much rather play there," Huff said. "But whatever they want to do. Rightfield is going to be a challenge, but I'm up for anything if it keeps me in the lineup."

CLOSING TIME: Piniella was not happy with many of the 30 pitches Jesus Colome threw in the ninth inning of Friday's game when he allowed three home runs.

And he may have been more upset with Colome failing to cover first base on what should have been a routine out early in the inning.

The result is that Colome, who has allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings, will be used in middle relief, and Lance Carter will handle the key late-inning assignments. He got the win Saturday after allowing one hit over the final 1 1/3 innings.

"Right now, obviously, Carter's my closer," Piniella said.

WHAT'S UP: Piniella has Hatcher working with rookie centerfielder Rocco Baldelli, who has had trouble tracking balls against the dome roof and making plays against the wall. That was a problem Saturday when Baldelli jumped at the wall but missed Alfonso Soriano's drive that turned into a leadoff triple and a first-inning run.

CALL TO ORDER: Al Martin called a players-only meeting Saturday so they could introduce themselves, open lines of communication and explain to young players how to "go about the business" of playing in the big leagues.

"We just want to get better," Martin said. "We don't want to stay the same. We don't want to be a joke. We want to be a respected major-league team that is going out and doing the best we can in every way. And if we do, the rest will take care of itself."

JETER UPDATE: Derek Jeter, who dislocated his left shoulder on opening day, will stay in the Tampa Bay area early for the early stages of his rehab to make use of the Yankees' spring training and minor-league facilities.

"It will be easier for him to stay here, the weather's good, the stuff he needs to do he can do, timewise," manager Joe Torre said. "He won't have to fit it in before a game or wait until the other guys finish. He's got the whole thing to himself."

Torre said when Jeter is ready for normal batting practice he will return to the team.

MISCELLANY: Japanese import Hideki Matsui takes a five-game hitting streak and .304 average into today's game. ... Rey Ordonez made two errors in a game for the 11th time in his career. ... Since Monday's opener, Rays starting pitchers have a 10.13 ERA. ... Martin batted cleanup for the second time in his career, first since Sept. 11, 1995. ... Raul Mondesi is 7-for-14 against Joe Kennedy with two doubles, a triple and a home run.